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Duart Castle is 3 miles south of the Village
of Craignure on the Isle of
Mull, where the main Ferries from Oban dock, with the
ferries giving good views of the Castle as they
arrive and depart from the Island, built from
the 1200s for Clan MacDougall, extended later
by Clan Maclean.
The Castle is open to visitors 10.30am to
4.00pm or 5.00pm, 1st April to mid October with
an entrance fee.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click on Map for Area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The images top right are from the Car Park
and of the Main Entrance to Duart Castle.
You can explore most of the rooms in the
Castle and walk around the Main Tower for great
views of the area and across to mainland
Scotland.
Duart Castle History
1200s - the earliest parts of Duart Castle
are said to have been built by Clan MacDougall,
a time they also built Aros Castle 27 miles
north, with them in control of most of
Mull.
1300s early - the MacDougall's fought
against King Robert the Bruce, leading to The
Bruce giving their land on Mull to the
MacDonald's who fought for him, including Duart
and Aros Castles.
1350? - Lachlan Lubanach Maclean, 5th Clan
Chief, married Mary MacDonald, daughter of John
MacDonald of Islay, Lord of the Isles. The
father of Mary granted them Duart Castle and
Lands.
1360 - the MacLean's also built Moy Castle on
the south side of Mull.
1493 - the MacDonald's fell out with King
James IV, leading to the King awarding Aros Castle to
the MacLean's, giving them control of most of
Mull with three Castles.
1513 - Hector Odhar, 9th Chief of Clan
Maclean, died at the Battle of
Flodden alongside King James IV of Scotland
as they fought the English.
1520? - Lachlan Cattanach, 11th Chief of
Clan MacLean, was accused of trying to murder
his wife Cathrine Campbell as she was unable to
have children. Lachlan was said to have been
murdered the following year by Cathrine's
brother, Sir John Campbell of Cawdor.
1647 - during the English Civil War (1642 -
1651) that led to the Royals being overthrown,
Duart Castle was attacked by Government troops
of Clan Campbell. Clan MacLean, supporting the
Royals, held out at Duart Castle for some time,
then pushed the Campbell's back off the
Island.
1660 - the Stuart Kings were returned to the
throne.
1674 - the Campbell's took over Aros Castle
after battles with the MacLean's over who
should control the area.
1678 - Clan Campbell attacked Duart Castle,
claiming the MacLean's were in debt to them,
forcing the MacLean's to flee.
1681 - King Charles II gave Duart Castle
back to the MacLean's as he had fallen out with
the Campbell's over religion, a time the King
wanted all prominent people in Scotland to
recognize him as the head of the State and
Church.
1691 - after Sir John MacLean of Duart had
fought with the Jacobite's in the First Rising,
Archibald Campbell led the Government forces
that took control of Duart lands and severely
damaged the Castle, with Government Troops then
stationed there to combat more Jacobite
Risings.
1746 - the MacLean's of Mull were related to
the MacQuarie's of Ulva, with them normally
fighting together, with most MacLean's and
MacQuarie's fighting together as Jacobite's at
the Battle of Culloden.
Some MacLean's, in the Argyll Militia,
fought for the Government at Culloden.
1751 - after the Battle of Culloden ended
the Jacobite Risings, Duart Castle was
abandoned by the Government Troops, soon
falling into ruin.
1858 - Torosay Castle was built about two
miles north of Duart Castle for a John
Campbell.
1865 - Torosay Castle and Estate, including
Duart Castle, were sold to Arburthnot Charles
Guthrie, a wealthy London businessman.
1911 - Sir Fitzroy Donald Maclean, 26th
Chief of the Clan MacLean, bought Duart Castle
so he could have it restored then opened it to
the public as a tourist attraction.
Sir Fitzroy
served in Crimea at the time of the Charge of the Light
Brigade in 1855. After one of the surviving
horses from that charge had been returned to
England and allowed to die of old age, its
hooves were used to make a Candelabra that can
be seen on the table in the Banqueting Hall of
Duart Castle.
2026 - Duart Castle is owned by Sir Lachlan
MacLean, 28th Chief of Clan
MacLean.
Torosay Castle
Gardens are open to the public some days in
summer,
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